16th Annual Golden Spurtle™
World Porridge Making Championship
The annual World Porridge Making Championships will take place in Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, Scotland, on Sunday 11th October 2009.

Contact, Copyright & Media Use
The World Porridge making Championship is organised by the Carrbridge Community Company, Carrbridge Ahead supporting Carrbridge Community Council. The main sponsor is oatmeal producers Hamlyns of Scotland.
All media enquiries to: Linda Jolly, tel: +44 1479 841 211, email: worldporridge@aol.com

High resolution images can be downloaded from the Golden Spurtle™ site. Images can be used by media reporting, but not for commercial use (e.g. advertising) unless permission given. If possible please give a photo credit. Please check the copyright of any images on linked sites.

2008 Winners Addy Daggert & Ian Bishop - Photo James Ross
(High Resolution for media use)

2008 Results
 
Winner of Golden Spurtle: Ian Bishop - The Slochd , Carrbridge.
Local mountain bike guru and cross country ski school proprietor.
Local porridge enthusiast. Ian has taken part in the championship every year since started. His secret ingredient, he believes, is the water he uses which comes from a bore hole tapped 100' down into an underground river.

2008 Speciality Porridge Winner - Photo Aileen Cairney
(High Resolution for media use)

Speciality Porridge Winner: Addy Daggert, Professional chef - Craigellachie
Addy won the sepciality porridge in 2006 and was last year pipped at the post despite getting a thumbs up all round for his porridge ice cream.
Addy's Speciality 2008 recipe: Marzipan porridge with Glenfiddich whisky ice cream and vanilla marinated stewed apple.

2008 Winner Ian Bishop as usual cracking a joke - Photo Aileen Cairney

Press Release

It was a home win for Carrbridge porridge enthusiast Ian Bishop who beat off tough competition to take the title of World Porridge Making Champion 2008 as expert porridge makers from far and wide gathered in the Highland village on Sunday to compete for the coveted Golden Spurtle Trophy.

Mr Bishop who lives at The Slochd, Carrbridge, where he runs his mountain bike and cross country skiing business, was jubilant to take the championship title. "I have entered every year since the competition started and although I've got as far as the final cook off three or four times, I had more or less given up hope of ever winning," he said.

2008 Winner Ian Bishop checking his winning porridge - Photo Aileen Cairney

The 62-year-old believes the secret of his success is the water he uses, which comes from a bore hole tapped 100ft down into an underground stream near his home.

The 15th annual championship attracted a strong line up of competitors from across Scotland as well as other parts of the UK along with an international competitor who had travelled from Canada to take part. They included professional chefs, guest house owners, professional caterers and amateur porridge makers all keen to prove they could make the perfect bowl of porridge.

As well as the prestigious Golden Spurtle Trophy, the porridge making champion was presented with a £350 hotel voucher and £250 spending money from the event's main sponsors, oatmeal producers Hamlyns of Scotland.

In the speciality category the first prize went to professional chef, Addy Daggert from Craigellachie for his marzipan porridge with Glenfiddich whisky ice cream and vanilla marinated stewed apple.

The 38-year-old Dutchman first won the speciality porridge in 2006 and was last year pipped at the post despite getting a thumbs up all round for his porridge ice cream. This time around he faced equally strong competition with a host of different porridge combinations put forward from a savoury porridge with wild mushrooms and mascarpone cheese to a porridge combined with caramelised pears, hazelnuts and double cream.

Anne Hilditch and 2008 Speciality winner Addy Daggert - Photo James Ross

The £150 prize and Speciality Quaich was presented by Anne Hilditch, widow of the legendary porridge maker and four times world champion, Duncan Hilditch who used to live in Carrbridge.

This year's panel of judges was headed up by George McIvor and Colin Bussey of the Master Chefs of Great Britain joined by guest judge Tom Lewis, one of Scotland’s foremost culinary experts.

Well known from his TV involvement in the BBC Two Great British menu series, Tom is head chef at the Monachyle Mhor Hotel, set on the family run farm in Perthshire where he has picked up a string of awards for his daily changing menu based on fresh seasonal produce.

Adding a touch of glamour to the occasion was Miss Scotland, Glasgow beauty, Stephanie Willemse who stopped off in Carrbridge on the first leg of a nationwide tour to encourage everyone to get into a party mood to celebrate St Andrew's Day.

Kitchen volenteers - Photo James Ross

The annual porridge making contest - which drew a crowd of more than 1,000 over the course of the day - is organised by Carrbridge Community Council whose chairman Mr Scott Bruce was delighted with the success of the event.

"It was good to see a number of new contenders this year and the judges commented as to how impressed they were that everyone seemed to be so knowledgeable about the oats they had chosen to use and about porridge in general," he said.

Thanking all the sponsors, volunteers and everyone who supported the event and helped on the day, Mr Bruce added that  it was rewarding to see the championship continuing to create such a huge amount of media interest as well as being followed on the Golden Spurtle  website by porridge fans across the world.

2008 Speciality Porridge Winner Addy Daggert - Photo Aileen Cairney

Among those  taking part  were last year's champion  Maria Soep  from the Roinebhal Country House at Kilchrenan in Argyll, 2007 speciality section winner Al Beaton from the Porridge Bowl, Inverness and  newcomer, Joanne Grice  who is the breakfast chef at the Saint Anne’s Inn and Spa, one of Canada’s  premier spa destinations.

2007 winner Maria Soep defends her title - Photo James Ross

Also in the running were Alan Robertson from the Craigellachie Hotel on Speyside; oil giant catering manager Yorman Odentz; porridge enthusiast, Rebecca Hay from East Kilbride; bed and breakfast owner, Colin Lindsay from Fife; and retired chartered accountant and porridge connoisseur, Albert Cowie from Portessie.

Other contenders included Londoner Simon Humphreys who made it into last year's final cook off and enjoyed the championship so much that he wanted to return again; first timer and fellow Londoner, Katie Murphy; and Anna Louise Batchelor from Reading.

Other local competitors included guest house owner and 2005 winner Lynn Benge from The Pines Country House at Duthil; and newcomer, Graeme Miller who is head chef at  the Craiglynne Hotel in Grantown.

With marks given for texture, consistency and taste, the four other competitors who made it into the final cook off to decide the who should be awarded the world title, were Colin Lindsay, Addy Daggert, Anna Louise Batchelor and Graeme Miller.

Master of ceremonies for the day was Martyn O'Reilly from Saltire International who as well as making sure everything ran smoothly, entertained the audience in between heats with a whisky tasting session with a selection of malts provided by malt whisky specialists, Gordon and MacPhail.

2008 procession from Old Bridge to Village Hall - Photo James Ross

The championship got off to a flying start with the official "Toast to the Porridge" and  parade of judges and competitors led by the Badenoch and Strathspey Pipe Band.

Among the other added attractions during the day was the Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run, sponsored by RE/MAX Cairngorm, with fund raising for Maggie's Highlands. This saw a record number of more than 140 competitors of all ages headed out on either a 3km or 5km route along the woodland tracks and trails around Carrbridge. There was also a minis fun run with commemorative medals for all the competitors and spurtles for the winners of the main categories.

The run started with a mass aerobic warm up led by local fitness instructor Sam Bain with the Carrbridge based street band Carrumba providing a rousing send off.  Miss Scotland was also there helping to cheer everyone on as well as presenting the winners medals. 

The programme for the day also included a farmers market, live music, cookery demonstrations, product tastings and foodie art workshops.

All media enquiries to:
Linda Jolly
Tel: 01479 841 211
Email: worldporridge@aol.com

More details and photos on event web site www.goldenspurtle.com

2008 Speciality Winner by Addy Daggert - Photo James Ross
(High Resolution for media use)

World Title
The title of World Porridge Making Champion is awarded to the chef deemed to have made the best traditional porridge using oatmeal, water and salt. As well as the coveted title and the 'Golden Spurtle' trophy, the winner of the competition, sponsored by 'Scotland’s leading Oatmeal producer', Hamlyns of Scotland, will receive a £350 hotel voucher and a cash prize of £250.

2008 competitors - Photo James Ross

Speciality Porridge
Most contestants also enter the ‘Speciality Porridge’ competition, for porridge with other ingredients added. The winner will receive the Duncan Hilditch Quaich. The Speciality Porridge winner will also receive a cash prize of £150.

2008 Porridge Parade - Photo Aileen Cairney

The Porridge Parade
The piper, millers, judges and entrants meet at the famous bridge for a complimentary dram to toast ‘The Porridge’ before proceeding to the Village Hall where the competition commences. Badenoch and Strathspey Pipe Band will play at bridge and then lead procession.

2008 Porridge Toast - Photo Aileen Cairney
(High Resolution for media use)

Sponsors
Hamlyns of Scotland, RE/MAX Cairngorm, Gleaner Oils, Walkers Shortbread, Roy Brown eCommerce, Carrbridge & Vicinity Community Council, and the Carrbridge Tourist Association.

Sponsor Hamlyns (Grampian Oat Products) offer
samples and advice to visitors.

Hamlyns of Scotland (sponsor)
The main sponsor of the World Porridge Making Championship Hamlyns of Scotland has a web site with useful information on oats, production, health and many recipes.

Recipes
See the porridge page for recipes including previous years champion's tips and for the Porridge & Oatmeal Thesaurus. The Scottish National Dictionary Association have kindly allowed us to use extracts from 'The Scots Thesaurus'.

Photos
Many thanks to Aileen Cairney and James Ross for the 2008 photos. Also see James Ross's excellent PBase gallery. I was unable to attend this year so their donation of the photos much appreciated - Roy (webmaster).

Photos on Golden Spurtle site by Roy Brown unless stated otherwise. See Roy Brown's Flickr site for other photos.

Copyright & Media Use
High resolution images downloaded from the Golden Spurtle™ site can be used by media for covering the event (photo credit if possible), but not for commercial use (e.g. advertising) unless permission given. Please check copyright for any images on linked sites.

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2009 Schedule

Sunday 11th October 2009

• 9.30am Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run Registration
• 10am Forest Run Mass Aerobic Warm Up
• 10.15am Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run
• 11.30am Forest Run Prize Giving
• 12 noon Porridge Competitors, Judges Officials
  Pipe Band led procession from Old Bridge to Village Hall
  Traditional Toast to the Porridge
• 12.30pm Start of World Porridge Making Championship 2007
• 3pm Announcement of winners, presentation of prizes
  Press Photo Call.

Other activities during the day include local produce and craft stalls, product tasting, cookery demonstrations, live music & street entertainment.

2009 Forest Run Entry

Please download and print the Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run Entry Form and Sponsorship Form.

2009 Guest Judge: Nell Nelson

Our guest judge for 2009 is Nell Nelson.

Nell Nelson

TV Presenter / Nutritionist / Cookbook  Author / Cooking Demonstrator Edinburgh-born Nell has perfected her hobby of  gourmet/cyclo touring as the best way to see and discover a country and its  cuisine.

Passionate about food and cycling, Nell has cycled and eaten  in every country she has visited from Mexico s cactus-studded deserts to  Pakistan s snow-topped mountains. Her hobby has led to a fascinating career in  food and travel writing, writing cookbooks and presenting her own popular  eight-part TV series, The Woman Who Ate Scotland. Keen to discover the  flavours of the Orient, Nell went to Hong Kong for a holiday in 1993 and ended  up staying for ten years, working as a food and travel writer, editor and  cookbook author.

In May 2003, she decided to cycle from Hong Kong to  Sydney, collecting recipes along the way to write a travel/cookbook called The  Woman Who Ate Asia. It took her seven months to cycle 5,000 miles  through nine countries, eating and discovering recipes. It was this enthusiasm  for locally produced food, that made Nell keen to discover the passion for food  in her own country and hence The Woman Who Ate Scotland was born. Her latest  project is a  nutritional cookbook called Eat Well With Nell published by  Hachette at  £12.99.

As well as having  an incredible knowledge of food  from around the world, Nell is also inspirational in terms that it only needs a  belief in one s self to take on a challenge such as cycling 5,000 miles on one's  own.  Just don't  look to closely into the mileage before you go, she says or else you will never leave.

See Nell's web site www.nellnelson.com. 

Miss Scotland attends 2008 Golden Spurtle™

2008 Winner Ian Bishop & Miss Scotland - Photo Aileen Cairney
(High Resolution for media use)

Stephanie Willemse, the reigning Miss Scotland added a touch of glamour to this year's World Porridge Making Championship. The 19-year-old blonde haired beauty from Glasgow visted Carrbridge as part of a nationwide drive to encourage everyone across the length and breadth of Scotland to get into the partying mood to celebrate St Andrew's Day. The campaign was launched in Glasgow on Saturday with the World Porridge Making Championship as the first official stop off on a countrywide tour.

2008 Speciality Winner Addy Daggert - Photo James Ross
(High Resolution for media use)

2008 Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run Results

There were a record number of more than 140 runners this year with the commorative medals and spurtles presented by Miss Scotland.

2008 5km winner Rupert Shute with Miss Scotland - Photo James Ross

5km
1st: Rupert Shute 17.08 (Reading) winner second year in succession
2nd: Gordon Stewart 17.44 (Kingussie)
3rd: Jamie Harrower 19.27 (Carrbridge)
Junior under 16: Calum Fraser (Laggan), Katy Homyer (Insh)
Senior: Rupert Shute, Karen Cameron (Laggan)
Vet 40+: Gordon Stewart (Kingussie), Elaine Homyer (Insh).

Lewis Holmes - 2008 3km winner - Photo Aileen Cairney

3km
1st: Lewis Holmes (Bonar Bridge)
2nd: Lewis McWilliam (Carrbridge)
3rd: Aiden McGrath (Carrbridge)
Junior under 16: Lewis Holmes, Christa Hutt (Grantown)
Seniors: Aiden McGrath, Jessie Mackintosh (Carrbridge
Vets 40+: Chris Bremmner (Elgin), Helen Wynd (Boat of Garten).

2008 Fun Run warm-up - Photo James Ross

Minis
1st = Ewan MacKintosh (Carrbridge)
1st = Jack Roberts (Carrbridge)

Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run 2008 - Sunday 12th October

The Carrbridge Challenge 3km & 5km Forest Run is held in conjunction with the annual World Porridge Making Championship.

2008 Forest Run - Photo Dorothy Carse

Sponsored by RE/MAX Cairngorm
Helping raise funds for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres

There will be medals for all competitors plus category prize winners.
This year it is hoped those taking part in the Forest Run will also help raise money towards Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres which provide information and support for anyone who has cancer as well as their families and friends. The pioneering concept was founded by Maggie Keswick Jencks from her own experience as a cancer patient. www.maggiescentres.org. Maggie's Highland can be found next to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.

You can help give your support to Maggie's by either making a donation or helping raise money through sponsorship support.

Click here to download Carrbridge Challenge Forest Run Entry Form and Sponsorship Form.

Join over 100 competitors lined up for the Carrbridge Challange Fun Run.

2008 Fun Run - Photo Aileen Cairney

2008 Media Coverage

Porridge contest creates a stir (inc video report)
BBC News, UK - 12 Oct 2008
Amateur enthusiasts have been joined by professional chefs in vying for the coveted Golden Spurtle. The porridge must be made with the traditional oatmeal, ...

World Porridge Championship 2008 (inc video reports)
Speyvideo.net
This years winner from the Slochd near carrbridge of the Golden Spurtle was Ian Bishop. Ian has-been trying for a number of year to win the title...

Ian is top of the porridge pots
ITN, UK - 13 Oct 2008
Makers from far and wide gathered in the Scottish Highland village of Carrbridge to compete in the annual competition. Winner Ian Bishop says his secret ...

Best porridge in the world ... official
The Herald, UK - 12 Oct 2008
The cream of Scotland's porridge cooks yesterday embarked on the contest to claim a hotly contested world title - with the prize of The Golden Spurtle at ...

Porridge contest stirs up impressive final
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 12 Oct 2008
By Tristan Stewart-Robertson HAD Goldilocks visited the Highlands, she would have found no difficulty picking a porridge that was "just right". ...

World porridge champ’s secret is water
Press and Journal, UK - 13 Oct 2008
HOME-GROWN WINNER: Ian Bishop of Carrbridge is handed the golden spurtle trophy by Miss Scotland, Stephanie Willemse. Sandy McCook Scotland’s new world ...

I've Won Porridge Contest Oat Last
Glasgow Daily Record, UK - 13 Oct 2008
THE new world porridge making champion won the Golden Spurtle at his 15th attempt yesterday. And Ian Bishop revealed his secret weapon was water from a ...

Perfect porridge nets title for Ian
Strathspey Herald - Inverness,Scotland,UK - 15 Oct 2008
THERE was a home win in the World Porridge Making Championship 2008, with Carrbridge man Ian Bishop beating off stiff competition to take the title. ...

Also reports on GMTV, Radio 5, Radio 2, and many more...

James Ross 'PBase' Photos

Recommended: See more James Ross photos at his excellent PBase gallery. Note Copyright of his PBase images is restricted. High resolution images downloaded from the Golden Spurtle site can be used by media for covering the event (but not for advertising etc) if a photo credit is given..

2008 Winner Ian Bishop & Miss Scotland - Photo James Ross
(High Resolution for media use)

2008 speciality entry - Photo James Ross

Discover Carrbridge
Information about our picturesque highland village named after the 1717 pack-horse bridge. See the Carrbridge section and the comprehensive links page.

Sponsorship Appeal

"We are two young Scottish ski racers from Carrbridge. We both compete on the international race circuit with the aim of being selected to represent GB at the Winter Olympics.

We are big porridge fans as we know that a bowl of porridge for breakfast can set us up for a demanding day on the slopes. Although we are being given some support through the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme for young up and coming sportspeople we are still very much in need of sponsors and would like to appeal to anyone who might be able to assist with our training and racing costs to help us get to the very top of our sport.

We can be contacted via the World Porridge Making Championship email. Any help you might be able to give will be very much appreciated"

Emma Norton, Scottish Ski Team, British Alpine Home Nations Development Team.
Sarah Norton, Scottish Ski Team, British Alpine Youth Team.

Buy On-line and Help Support Carrbridge Projects

The Carrbridge Community Development Company 'Carrbridge Ahead' has signed up for a website fund raising network where goods and services purchased via the on-line shop can earn commission which will go into a fund raising pot to help support village projects. (Note may need to allow site cookies).

Carve Carrbridge
The 2009 annual 'Scottish OpenChainsaw Carving Competition' Carve Carrbridge will be held on Saturday 5th September 2009. See web site Carve Carrbridge.

Pete Bowsher with his 2008 winning sculpture
and brandishing the Claymore Trophy - Photo Roy Brown

To complement the Chainsaw Log Sculpture Competition, there will be a whole host of activities for all the family including a quick carve, grand auction, stalls and sideshows, axe throwing, belly dancing, live music and much more much more. See Carve Carrbridge.